Repeal could also have enormous implications for state budgets and hospital payments. Jeopardizing any one of these important things is troublesome enough, but harming all three simultaneously would severely strain the nation's healthcare delivery system.

Some insiders say they are encouraged that GOP leaders are slowly recognizing they need to take steps to shore up the fragile individual insurance market if they repeal the ACA soon after Donald Trump takes office without an immediate replacement.

Ascension CEO Anthony Tersigni is planning to meet this week with President-elect Donald Trump's transition team to give input on healthcare reform. As head of the nation's largest not-for-profit hospital company, Tersigni has used his visibility to advocate for access to affordable care.

Price and Verma would be key to Trump's plan to repeal and replace the ACA. Price's ACA replacement plan would allow people to opt out of Medicare and Medicaid and receive tax credits to buy individual plans. Verma helped craft Indiana's Medicaid expansion, which requires contributions to an HSA.

Healthcare governance experts fear that President-elect Donald Trump's potential conflicts between official duties and private business interests could send a signal to leaders in healthcare and other industries that it's OK to relax their ethical standards.

Many CEOs responding to our post-election survey said they're willing to consider Trump's healthcare reform ideas. But 86% said an ACA repeal should not proceed without a replacement that provides affordable health insurance for all Americans who lack employer-based coverage.

Healthcare interests fighting proposals placed on state ballots by citizen petitions vastly outspent the proponents. And for the most part their media campaigns successfully staved off unwanted changes such as controls on drug prices in California and a single-payer system in Colorado.